Toronto Maple Leafs get boost from improved shootout record

In deciding the outcome, there is little debate. The overtime shootout is a league-devised gimmick that benefits one-dimensional players who have the ability to perform spin-o-ramas and other trick shots not normally seen during regulation time. It also benefits casual fans who spent the previous 65 minutes watching two teams battle to a tie.

The shootout, which was prepped for the chopping block at the general managers’ meetings earlier this month, might soon be following the visor-less player into extinction. But with a 3-1 shootout record — fourth-best in the Eastern Conference — the Leafs are more than happy it is still around.

Following Saturday’s 2-1 shootout win against the Washington Capitals, in which James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul both scored for Toronto and goaltender James Reimer stopped three of four shots — and another 49 in regulation and overtime — the Leafs have picked up three extra points in games that have gone to the extra shots.

That might not seem like much, but without them the third-place Leafs would be dropped down to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. Toronto lost all five times last season when their games went to a shootout, and it was the difference between starting at home or on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

So what’s changed? How did a team that ranked last in the league in the shootout suddenly become one of the best? Well, luck plays a role in what critics have derided as a sideshow. But like a lot of the mysteries surrounding this season’s Leafs, it probably comes down to goaltending.

James Reimer, who was in net for all five of Toronto’s shootout losses last season, had a .625 save percentage. This year, he and Jonathan Bernier have combined for a .750 save percentage. Bernier, who is 2-1 in the shootout, has allowed just two goals on eight shots. Reimer, whose shootout against the Capitals on Saturday night was his first of the season, has allowed one goal on four shots.

“I don’t know when I [last] won a shootout in the regular season,” said Reimer, who leads the NHL with a .947 save percentage, not including shootouts. He stopped Alex Ovechkin, Niklas Backstrom and forced Troy Brouwer to miss to close out Saturday’s victory. “It means a lot, but shootouts are shootouts. You can’t get too high, you can’t get too low. It’s a little thing at the end of the game and you can’t put too much weight on it.”

Most general managers seem to agree with Reimer on this. At the annual GM meetings in Toronto earlier this month, there was a push to extend overtime from five to eight or 10 minutes — possibly with teams playing 3-on-3 aside — as a way to get rid of the shootout or at the very least limit its occurrence.

“I like the idea of the games being decided prior to the shootout, and if we had to extend four-on-four play I would understand that,” St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong told reporters.

It means a lot, but shootouts are shootouts. You can’t get too high, you can’t get too low. It’s a little thing at the end of the game and you can’t put too much weight on it

“I think it’s entertaining,” Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman told reporters. “Do I like it? I do, but I certainly hope I’m not in a position on the last game of the season and we’re down to a shootout determining if we’re in. That’s happened in the past. I do love it for the entertainment value. I make a point of watching it. So, yes I like it; no, I don’t like it.”

For now, with the shootout having decided 16% of the games this season, they are as important as the ability to kill a penalty.

The Devils, who are 0-4 in the shootout, would go from fourth to second place in the Metropolitan Division with four extra points. The Capitals, who are 5-2 in the shootout, would barely be out of the basement with five extra losses.

In other words, the shootout is more than just a novelty act.

Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle has changed his approach. At times last season, Carlyle seemed to be picking names out of a hat when the game went to a shootout. He used 11 different players in five shootouts, including defencemen Dion Phaneuf and Cody Franson for unsuccessful attempts, and he once snubbed Mikhail Grabovski during a shootout that lasted 10 rounds.

This season, Toronto has relied on six players in four shootouts and has gotten a different result. Van Riemsdyk is 2-for-2; Lupul and Tyler Bozak are each 1-for-1. Mason Raymond, who is 1-for-4, scored his only shootout goal on one of those crowd-pleasing spin-o-rama moves.

Gimmicky? Sure. But as far as the extra points go, the Leafs are taking them seriously.